Last Updated: 6 May 2021 15:16 1

IPHIS: Lexicon of Words

Term Definition

Activity The task performed on a particular site during a visit on a specific day. 

Activities performed in IPHIS are: Surveys, Compliance Agreement, 

Compliance Agreement Inspection, EAN (Emergency Action Notice), 

Call Log, and Treatment & Control.

Area Open Entry Alpha Numeric Field. Offices determine what data is 

entered in the field.

Compliance Agreement A formal arrangement between a regulatory entity and an 

establishment to adhere to a specific set of regulations.

Compliance Inspection A review, conducted by a regulatory entity, of an establishment’s 

practices ensuring adherence to a specified set of regulations.

DOP The dilution of precision (DOP) is used for measuring the UNI-GR1’s 

position precision. DOP values describe the current strength of the 

satellite configuration (geometry), and the uncertainty of the data that 

the UNI-GR1 can collect at that moment.

EAN Emergency Action Notice (EAN) records the finding of an undeclared 

regulatory article. (i.e.) plant, seed, soil, animal violating regulations

Filter The reduction of a grouping of information using key words, portion of 

key words, and/or calculations.

Folder A grouping of Workbooks. Workbooks can be assigned to only one 

folder. See “Workbooks”.

Example:

“Inspector #1 Folder” is associated with Route 1, Route 3, Route 15,

and Solano County Groves.

Geo Accuracy Level Geocoding is the process by which the street address is converted into 

geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude). Most entries will be 

User Entered Location. 

Examples: 

US Street Address - Uploaded locations with addresses with no 

latitude / longitude or zip code to determine latitude or longitude.

US Zip Code - Uploaded locations with addresses and zip code with 

no latitude / longitude or zip code.

Geo Method The method used to capture geographic coordinates (latitude and 

longitude). 

Examples:

Digitized / Manual Entry - Obtained from the internet or other sources.

Mapping Grade – Obtained using a high-end professional device.

Recreational Grade – Obtained using a lower end GPS device

(purchased from a recreational store). 

Web Service – The user uploads location information into a webbased system to obtain coordinates.
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Term Definition

GPS Global Positioning System. An accurate worldwide navigational and 

surveying facility based on the reception of signals from an array of 

orbiting satellites. In short, the GPS tells you where you are on Earth.

Grid A network of lines crossing each other forming a series of squares or 

rectangles overlayed on a map. Each square or rectangle is identified 

with a unique identifier. The area identified by the squares or 

rectangle may be measured in miles or meters

HDOP The effect of the DOP on the horizontal position value. The higher the 

number of visible satellites low in the sky, the better the HDOP and the 

horizontal position (Latitude and Longitude) are. See “DOP”.

IPHIS IPHIS (Integrated Plant Health Information System) is a web-based 

application accessible from the desktop or mobile device that provides 

a single, standardized, and comprehensive data management system 

capable of supporting activities associated with domestic or 

emergency pest programs.

Latitude The angular distance of a place north or south of the earth's equator

usually expressed in degrees and minutes. 

Location A contiguous piece of land; (i.e.) a land parcel. Locations do not move 

as they are associated with a GPS grid coordinate. Locations should 

not be confused with a Trap Identifier Number. Trap Identifier Number 

is stored in the Tool ID field in Surveys.

The location point is generally the GPS point of entry into the property.

Location Category Is the labeling of a location determining the type of location: 

Commercial, Governmental, Industrial, Other, Private, Residential or 

Tribal Land

Location Class The labeling of a location determining its chain classification. This

data is entered as the business name followed by the location class.

Examples:

Home Depot, Lowes – Large Chain, Mary’s Vineyard #1 – Small Chain

with 10 local locations

Location Name An alpha-numeric field used to record the name of a location. The best 

practice is to use some type of descriptor of the property. Location 

Name is searchable throughout the IPHIS application

Examples:

Commercial - Home Depot #1234, Lowes #1234, Joe’s Vineyard, 

Curtis Orchard, Excel Grove - Johnsonville

Residential – 123 Main Street, this is a repeat of the address field 

keep in mind the Location Name field is searchable throughout the 

application

Remote – Junction of State Route 34 and Road 51 – SR34 & RD 51

Remote – State Route 34 Mile Marker 51 – SR34 MM 51

Remote – Mary Vineyard Leased in Fairfield

Parcel numbers can be used as well or any other coding method

Location Type The labeling of a location to classify further. 

Examples:

Camp Ground, Cut Flower Producer, Farmer’s Market, Field, Golf 

Course, Orchard, Range Land, Vineyard
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Term Definition

Longitude The angular distance of a place east or west of the meridian at 

Greenwich, England, or west of the standard meridian of a celestial 

object, usually expressed in degrees and minutes.

Office IPHIS uses a branching hierarchy to define relationships between 

organizations and offices, which in turn define security rights and the 

visibility of data. 

Offices under one hierarchy cannot edit or view data within an office

under a different hierarchy unless permitted by contract or granted by 

the office. 

USDA/APHIS/PPQ offices fall under one hierarchy and state and local 

cooperators under a separate hierarchy.

PDOP This value describes how many satellites are spread evenly 

throughout the sky. The more the satellites directly above you and the 

less on the horizon, the lower the PDOP value is. See “DOP”.

Range Assigned to a township by measuring east or west of a Principal 

Meridian. See “PLSS”.

PLSS The United States Public Land Survey System (PLSS). The PLSS is 

the surveying method developed and used in the United States to plat, or 

divide, real property for sale and settling. See “Range”, “Section”, 

“Township”.

Section The basic unit of the system, a square piece of land one mile by one 

mile containing 640 acres. See “PLSS”.

Site A place within the “Location” where the survey activity takes place.

Locations can have many Sites. All sites have a GPS grid coordinate. 

Sites do not move. Sites may have a radius, determined by the office, 

rather than a pinpoint place on the ground. For example, a host such 

as a citrus tree may have a diameter of 20 feet. It is not necessary to 

create a secondary site on a tree because the trap placement moves 

on the host or multiple traps are placed on the host.

Sites do not disappear because the host is removed.

Site Name An alpha-numeric field to record the name of a site. Site name may be 

a sequential number or a place descriptor by the establishment. 

Examples:

Site 1, Site 2, 

Row 1 Post 4

Establishments may use their own mapping system:

Woodward Grove Row A Post 5

Elle’s Vineyard Fairfield Row AB Stake 6

Site Number A 50-character alpha numeric field. Any type of words or character 

combinations can be used.

It is recommended to use some type of descriptor for the Site Name.

Examples:

Below Fire Extinguisher Column 45

Tree East of Telephone Pole #30

First Tree on First Row Right of Gate

Survey Field data collection method.
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Term Definition

Targeted Always select NO.

Originally used to target a site for a specific program. When the site is 

used in many programs and it is targeted for one program then it is 

targeted for all programs.

Township 36 sections arranged in a 6 by 6 square, measuring 6 miles by 6 miles. 

Sections are numbered beginning with the northeast-most section 

(#1), proceeding west to 6, then south along the west edge of the 

township and to the east (#36 is in the SE corner). See “PLSS”.

Template A preset format for an entry form in a pest management program. 

Templates contain the required formatted fields, so program managers or 

users do not need to recreate the form each time it is used. After the 

required fields are filled templates can be further customized by adding 

custom data entry fields to meet accept data for either National, State, 

County programs. 

Tool Identifier Tool Identifier (ID) is the trap being tracked. Tool ID is not to be 

confused with the unique trap number bar coded on the trap.

Example: 

Tool Identifier (ID) GH245 – N – ACP1 is the trap being tracked. The 

unique bar code number 1234567890-987654321 on the “Yellow 

Sticky Panel” trap is the unique number scanned in for tracking at the 

laboratory. Meanwhile, a new “Yellow Sticky Panel” trap replaces the 

previous trap.

Trap Number Unique Identification number labeled on the trap itself; typically, a 

barcode.

VDOP The effect of the DOP on the vertical position value. The higher the 

number of visible satellites low in the sky, the better the VDOP and the 

vertical position (Altitude) are. Also see DOP.

Workbook A filtered list used to organize / group Locations. Workbooks are not 

physical workbooks they are more like sticky labels placed on piece of 

paper so you can identify the paper in a particular manner. 

Workbooks can be grouped together into folders Workbooks can be 

assigned to only one folder. 

Locations can be in multiple Workbooks. 

Example

Workbook – Route 1 – contains all the locations used on a specific 

route

Workbook – Orchards north of Smithville – contains all the Orchards 

north of Smithville. Some of the orchard locations could also be on 

Route 1.

Workbook – Screenhouses Cook County

Workbook – Screenhouses Lake County

2021 Disclaimer: Training techniques or workflows held within are designed as basic job aids. Mobile collection tools and 

technology used are constantly being improved upon. End users should consult with management for current workflows and 

standards.